Classroom Resources | Grades 6 – 8 | Lesson Plan | UnitEveryone Loves a Mystery: A Genre Study
Students track the elements of mystery stories through Directed Learning-Thinking Activities, story maps, and puzzles. Then they offer clues for other readers as they plan and write original mystery stories.

Classroom Resources | Grades 6 – 8 | Lesson Plan | UnitExamining Island of the Blue Dolphins through a Literary Lens
After a discussion about courage and adversity and reading Scott O'Dell's Island of the Blue Dolphins, students examine Karana's character development and look for examples of courage in their community.

Classroom Resources | Grades 6 – 8 | Lesson Plan | UnitExpository EscapadeDetective's Handbook
Students create a Detective's Handbook based on a detective mystery they have read. The handbooks include expository and descriptive writing, as well as a letter.

Classroom Resources | Grades 6 – 8 | Lesson Plan | UnitThe Big, Bad Wolf...Is This a Fact?
Reading is revamped in this lesson in which students use a multimedia approach to study the books by Seymour Simon.